Combined inkwell and pen support



Sept. 1, 1931. J. F. GAIL I 1,821,179

COMBINED INKWELL AND PEN SUPPORT Filed Nov. 22, 1928 immersed as above mentioned.

JQCtS and advantages Wlll be understood by Patented Sept. 1, 1931 orrsn s'rares PATENT "OFFICE,

JOHN F. GAIL, F EVANSTQN, ILLINOIS COMBINED INKWELL ANI) PEN- SUPPORT Application filed November 22, 1928. Serial in. 321,117.

This invention relates to a combined ink- Well and pen support and has for one of its main objects to provide an article of the class a. described having means for supporting a pen in a conveniently accessible, upright position, with the pen pointimmersed in ink contained in the inkwell so that the pen is at all times ready for use. Another object is to provide means for supporting the pen in upright po ;[6 sition with the pen immersed to a predetermined limited depth in the ink contained in the reservoirg and still another object is to provide such means which is adjustable according to the level of the ink in the inkwell, so that the pen may be maintained immersed in the ink to approximately the said predetermined depth regardless of the quantity of ink in the ink reservoir. A still further object is to provide indicating means for facilitatingadjustment of the pen support to the proper position, with respect to the level of the ink supply, in which the support is operative to maintain the pen point Other obreference to the following specification and accompanying drawings.

In the drawings, I have illustrated a combined inkwell and pen support embodying a selected form of my invention. In the drawings: Fig. 1 is a plan;

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 22 of Fig.

. 1, and

' Fig. 3 is a section on the line 33 of Fig. 2.

Referring now to the drawings, my im- ,roved inkwell and Jen su )ort may conl sist of a main reservoir or receptacle 4 having a bottom 5 and sidewall 6 provided with a recessed top marginal portion 7 having external screw-threading to receive similar screw-threading on the inside of the depending flange part 8 of a cover 9. The cover 9 may thus be securely attached to the reservoir 4 to close the same.

In the present embodiment of my invention, the cover 9 is axially apertured and provided with screw-threading asindicated at 10, and a pen support 11' is mounted in the said threaded aperture The pen support comprises an elongated, tubular member 12 having screw-threading 13 extending along a comparatively long part of the length of said tubular member, the screw-threading l3 meshing withthe screw-threaded aperture 10, so that the support 11 is verticallyadjustably mounted in the cover,vertical adjustment being effected by rotating the support .11.

f The upper end ofthe support 11 is preferably flared outwardly as shown at. 14, to 60 facilitate insertion of a pen into the support, and the lower end thereof is provided with a laterally, inwardly projecting shoulder or seat 15 which is adapted to receive the lower end 16 of a pen 17 to thereby support the same. The pen point 18 projects'through the aperture19 in the bottom of the support and into the supply of ink indicated at 20 in the reservoir.

Thesupport 11 is preferably of such a diameter'relative to the pen which it is intended to use in. connection therewith, that the pen will beengaged at a point spaced upwardly. from the lower end 16 of the pen substantially as shown at 21. Such engagement between the pen holder and the support serves to support the pen in a substantially vertical position co-axial with the tubular support 11, so that the lower end 16 of the pen is seated around substantially so its entire circumference von the shoulder 15 wherebytheopening 19 in the bottom of the support is effectively closed so as to prevent evaporation offink from the reservoir. .s5 It will be apparent by an inspection of Fig. 2, that-the penv support 11 may'readily be adjusted up or downso as to support the pen with the pen point immersed in the ink to any desired depth. In some'cases it is de- 9 sirable to immerse the pen to about half its exposed length, substantially as shown in Fig. 2, and it is desirable to providemeans which will serve to indicate at what position of adjustment the support is operative to support the pen with the pen point immersed to the desired depth. Forthis purposeI provide a float-controlled indicator which comprises an indicator rod 22, which is vertically slidably mounted in an aperture 23-provided in I the support 11 and extending therethrough substantially parallel to the axis of the support. The lower end of the indicator rod 22 is connected to a lever 2 by means of a loose connection which is formed by means of a loop 25 in the lever 24 and upper and lower enlargements 26 and 27 adjacent the lower end of the said indicator red. A float 28, preferably of cork, is secured to the lever 24 which is preferably formed of a length of suitable wire bent to substantially, U-shape, as shown in Fig. 3, so as to embrace the float 28. The loop 25 is formed integral with one of the legs of the U-shaped member and the outer ends of both of the legs are pivotally connected to the lower end of the pen support 11 through the agency of supporting brackets 29 and 80 which are secured in the lower end of the pen support in any suitable manner. The outer ends of the legs of the U-shaped memberzarepivotally connected to the outer ends of the brackets 29 and 30 in any desirable manner, for example, by means of outwardly turned end portions 31 and 32 which. project through loops 33 ands-34rforrned in the ends of the brackets 2-9fand 30 respectively.

It will be understoodthat the upper end of the indicator rod 22 is visible at the top of the pen support 11 and also for a short length on the inside thereof. The said upper end may be painted or otherwise treated or colored so as to render the same more clear 1y visible. VVhenthe pen support is disposed inthe proper position of vertical adjustment relative to the level of the ink in the reservoir,

' thefioat member. 28 will be effective to sup substantially flush i 'I amaware that changes may port the indicator rod 22 in substantially the position shown in Fig. 2, wherein the'upper end of the indicator is clearly visible and is or even with thetop of the pen support. WVhen the ink level goes down, the float will, of course, move downwardly, pullin the indicator 22 downward- 0 83 u ly with. 1t, eventually concealing the upper end portion of the indicator in the aperture 23. When the indicator is so concealed, the

pen support should be rotated so fasto be downwardly. adjusted until the upper end of the indicator :rod is again visible Hence, it is a simple matter to maintain the pen point immersed to a substantially uniform depth through wide limits of ink level, whereby: the pen will at all times be kept in condition for immediate use. Corrosion of the penpoint is greatly retarded, since it is in effect maintain-ed ina chamber which is sealed apart from the atmosphere,

1 If a fountain pen of the self-filling type is used inconnection with'my device, the pen v reservoir may quickly and conveniently be plenished from time to time without the danger of inserting, the point end of the penholderintothe ink reservoir far enough to wet the barrel ,of-thepen. i.

be made in the form, construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of my invention, the scope of which should be determined by reference to the following claims, the same being construed as broadly as possible consistent with the state of the art.

I claim as my invention:

1. In an inkstand of the class described, the combination of a reservoir for containing a supply of ink, a cover removably mounted on said reservoir and provided with an apertured part adapted to support a penholder in position to close the aperture, said part being vertically adjustable relative to said reservoir-so as to maintain a pen point carried by saic penholder immersed in the ink in said reservoir between wide limits of ink level, and means carried by said part and controlled by the level of ink in said reservoir for indicating the proper position of vertical adjustment of said part.

2. In an inkstand of the class described, the combination of a reservoir for containing supply of ink, an apertured cover removably mounted on said reservoir, a tubular pen socket vertically adjustably mounted in the aperture in said cover and having an aperture and an annular seat in its lower end, said aperture serving to permit a pen point to pass therethrough into the ink contained in said reservoir, said seat being effective to receive the end of the penholder so as to support the same with the pen point immersed in the ink contained in said reservoir and whereby the penholder serves to close said. aperture to prevent evaporation of ink from the reservoir. and a float-controlled indicator carried bysaid pen socket for indicating the proper position of adjustment of said socket relative to the level of the ink in. the reservoir for maintining said pen point immersed approximately to a predetermined depth.

3. In an inkstand of the class described, the combination oi a reservoir for containing supply of ink, an apertured cover removably mounted on said reservoir, a tubular r-en socket vertically adjustably mounted in the aperture of said cover and having an aperture and annular seat in its lower end, said aperture serving to permit a pen point to-pass therethrough into the ink contained in d reservoir, said scat beingetl'ective to receive the end of the penholder so as to support the same with the pen point immersed in the ink contained in said reservoir and whereby the penholder serves to close said a erture to prevent evaporation of ink from the reservoir, and means controlled by the leve of the ink in the reservoir for indicatin the proper vertical position of adjustmentoi said socket relative to said ink level for maintaining said pen point immersed in said ink approximately to a predetermined the pen holder in upwardly extending,

' a pen holder depth, said means comprising a float having a relatively long arm extending therefrom and pivotally connected at its outer end to said socket, and a visible indicator connected to said arm intermediate said pivotal connection and float.

4. In an inkstand of the class described, the combination of a reservoir, a cover removably mounted on said reservoir and provided with an internally screw-threaded aperture, a pen supporting socket comprising an externally screw-threaded tubular member fitting in said aperture so as to be vertically adjustable therein by rotation of said tubular member, said tubular member having an axially parallel aperture extending through its wall and aseat in its lower lower end of a pen disposed therein, the pen point projecting beyond said. lower end into the ink contained in said reservoir, and'inea-ns for indicating the proper vertical position of adjustment of said tubular member relative to the level of the ink in said reservoir for maintaining said pen point immersed in said ink to a predetermined depth, said means comprising a float, an arm connected at one end to said float and at its other end pivotally connected tothe lower end of said tubular member and an indicator rod slidably disposed in said axially parallel aperture and connected to said arm intermediate the ends of the latter, the upper end of said rod being visible adjacent the top of said tubular memher when the latter is disposed in said proper position of vertical adjustment relative to the liquid level in said reservoir. 7

5. In an inkstand of the class described, the combination of a reservoir for holding a supply of ink, an apertured member mounted on said reservoir and adapted to engage the lower end of a pen holder to limit immersion of the pen point in the ink in said reservoir, said member being also adapted to support conveniently accessible position with the pen point immersed in. said ink so as to be ready for use upon withdrawal of the pen, said member being mounted on said reservoir so as to be vertically adjustable relative to the level of the ink in said reservoir, whereby said member is adapted to maintain the pen point submerged in the ink to asubstantially uniform limited depth between wide limits of ink level, and means controlled by the level of the ink in said reservoir for indicating by visual comparison with the height of said apertured member whether or not the latter is properly vertically adjusted for a given level of ink in said reservoir.

6. In an inkstand of the class described, the combination of a reservoir for holding a supply of ink, stop means associated with said reservoir for engaging the lower end of while permitting a pen point end for receiving the,

carried by the pen holder to pass beyond said stop and into a supply of ink in said reservoir, said stop serving to limit the-depth to which the pen point may be immersed in said ink, said reservoir and said limiting means being adjustable relative to each other to permit the pen to be immersed in the ink to asubstantially uniform depth througlr wide limits of ink level, and visible indicating means controlled by the level of the ink for indicating by visual comparison with the height of said apertured member whether or not the latter is properly vertically adjusted for a given level of ink in said reservoir.

7 In an inkstand of the class described, the combination of a reservoir for holding a supply of ink,,means associated with said reservoirfor limiting the depth to which the pen may be inserted into the ink in said reservoir, said reservoir and limiting means being manually adjustable relative to each other to permit the pen to be immersed in the ink to a substantially uniform depth through wide limits of ink level, a float member carried by said limiting means and an indicating member connected to said float member and also carried by said limiting means, said indicating member cooperating with said limiting means whereby, when said limiting means has been properly adjusted for a given level of ink in said reservoir, said indicating member will extend upwardly to a predetermined point relative to said limitmg means.

8. In combination with an inkwellhaving an apertured cover, a pen-supporting mem ber extending through said apertured cover andvertically adjustable relative thereto.

said pen-supporting member being adapted to support a pen with its point extending into ink carried by said well and to restrict the movement of the pen into said ink to a predetermined limit, a float member carried by said pen-supporting member so as to be capable of free Vertical movement according to the liquid level within said well, and a vertical indicating member secured to said float jmember and extending through said pen-supporting member, said parts being so adjusted that the upper extremity of said indicating member will be just substantially visible when said pen-supporting member is properly vertically adjusted relative to said a well for a given level of liquid therein.

JOHN F. GAIL. 

